Exemples of supportes projects

Etienne Bucher

EPICENTER : Good promise with epigenetics

Etienne Bucher, researcher in genetics at the Botanical Institute, University of Basel, Switzerland joined the research Institute of Horticulture and Seeds (IRHS) in Angers on September 1st, 2014. The aim is the creation of a center specialized in epigenetics.Epigenetics is one of the major discoveries of the last 10 years. Recent research has demonstrated that for plants not only DNA but also memory can be transmitted from one generation to the other, information transmitted such as the reaction induced from bacteria or pathogens enable plants to be better prepared in their reactions.At the moment, demonstration has been made for annual plants – corn, rice – but as regards perennial plants such as roses or apples, research has still to be developed and this is one of the objectives of the project “Epicenter”.“Thanks to my expertise in epigenetics, having joined the “IRHS”, the ambition is to create a center of expertise in this field in Angers and have a better understanding in crop plants and also in flowering control. And therefore, to obtain plants more resistant to pathogene, with an optimized growth and flowering time. It is an essential axis for plant producers and the for the ligerian economy, considering that 20 % of commercialized apples in France are produced in Pays de la Loire. Research will begin as of October 2014 and an epigenome will be created with the hope to obtain first results in one year thanks to a research team of 7 researchers. If the center is interested at first step in the vegetal field (including vineyards), we could also develop at second step collaborative projects for research in health (cancer strength, etc.).

Jean-François Gestin

ISOTOP4LIFE: THE RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL HUB

Jean-François Gestin, director of research at Inserm, Nantes (Institute for therapeutic research, University of Nantes), founder of ISOTOP4LIFE & vice president of pole of competitiveness “Atlanpole Biotherapies”.The creation of ISOTOP4LIFE hub, supported by Region Pays de la Loire and Atlanpôle, enabled to mutualize ligerian industrials and academics in the field of nuclear health – with 4 offers: radiopharmaceutical production and derivative products; preclinical and clinical validation; R&D services for diagnosis and therapy; teaching, conferences and international expert networks. The main goal of the project is to complete the expertise in the radiopharmaceutical field through the creation of a center dedicated to the production of radiopharmaceuticals with distribution on a European scale. This center will be located in Nantes and should be created within 3 years.This center named “La Fabrique” should be a center of excellence thanks to collaboration of industrial and academic actors with an international expertise in nuclear medicine and moreover, by offering production facilities on an industrial scale, accelerate innovation technologies, etc. Within the center, the “academic corner” will have a major role regarding innovation as it will facilitate transfer of research products to the industrial sector. A training area will be devoted to the pharmaceutical production in real conditions through synthetic automates provided by industrial actors. 5 companies have already expressed their interest for the center.With all actors in Nantes including the team of Pr. Michel Chérel, co-project leader, the aim is to create a unique pole in nuclear health in Europe.

Guy Lenaers

A pole of excellence focus on mitochondrial diseases

I have been at University of Angers since January 2015. Specialised in mitochondrial medicine, my ambition to create a unique transdisciplinary pole of excellence in research and higher education in Angers, entitled “PREMMi” focused on mitochondrial diseases (Alzheimer, cardiovascular, cancer, …) with a European and even international range and in close connection with international centers such as Bologna, Philadelphia and Newscastle.With a ten people team, the main objective of the project is to create a unique scientific dynamic with existing research teams in the fields of health and vegetal to bring out a cluster in mitochondrial medicine of international range. University Hospital center in Angers is also involved through use of cohorts of patients recruited at University hospital and patient associations.

Julie Gavard

JULIE GAVARD

PERMEATUM : for breaktrough in research on cancer

After four years as head of a research team at the Cochin Institute in Paris, Julie Gavard CNRS researcher joined the Nantes Angers Cancer and Immunology Research Center, “CRCNA” in September 2015. She will be head of a new team created at this research center to reinforce the axis "oncogenesis and targeted therapies", one the principal axis at CRCNA. Nicolas Bidéré, Inserm researcher, will be one her team member. Her arrival will reinforce CRCNA excellence in the field of oncology and will contribute to the development of research in health and its appeal beyond the frontiers.

"My research focuses on the adhesion properties of cancer cells. The new research program I am leading is mainly focused on the study of communication between vascular cells and cancer cells with a strain character within brain tumors. The project combines large-scale screening approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics and chemical) in the in vitro study first, and then in vivo validation on mice of molecular mechanisms involved during tumor development process. The developments will also be of good benefit for the study on other cancers studied at CRCNA. This project fits perfectly with CRCNA research topics and the lab brings a rich environment within the research federal structure on health in Nantes”.

Pierre Antoine Gourraud

"PPMT”, for a pioneering personalized medicine for transplantation

Pierre-Antoine Gourraud, a recognized expert in genetics and bioinformatics, will leave his laboratory based in California soon to settle next September in Nantes. His research is at the crossroads of immunology, genetics and information technology. In the US, he has developed a unique approach for personalized medicine in complex diseases from research on Multiple Sclerosis. He will join the Institute of Transplantation Urology Nephrology (ITUN), research center in transplantation and immunology.

"My core research at the Department of Neurology at medical School, University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) is based on clinical and biological data processing application for patients with complex diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (incurable chronic disease affecting the nervous system). The interest is to develop appropriate mathematical models to better understand biological processes of chronic diseases. This project will enable breakthrough in predictive and personalized medicine for complex diseases (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurodegenerative) with applications to and spread to other areas such as human transplantation".

Patrizio Massoli

ODE : use of Optical Diagnostics for the an optimization of Energetic systems

ODE project is a project of international chair related to the use of optical diagnostics with application to energetic systems. Patrizio Massoli, researcher at Instituto Motori located in Naples, has research experience in the field of optical diagnostics with international expertise in this field. He joined the laboratory of thermocinetics, “LTN”, located in Nantes. P Massoli is also European referee for questions related to bioenergy and energetic technologies with reduced carbon emissions.

“LTN” is expert in experimental studies regarding complex fluid flows and it optimization in energetic systems. “LTN” was one of the leader labs in the regional energy projects PERLE 1 and PERLE 2 (pole of emergence and then pole of excellence in Ligerian research for energy – 2007-2014) and has then initiated the creation of the GIS “PERLE” to encourage collaboration with labs and firms in this topic. The collaboration between P Massoli and “LTN” has been developed since 2011. The cooperation resulted very fruitful with several papers published in international journal and also international conferences and national meetings.

The ambitious collaboration between Patrizio Massoli, his group of four researchers in Naples and Ligerian researchers (mainly from “LTN” and also from “GEPEA” – Process Engineering for Environment and Food) will lead to the acquisition of a double expertise in the field of complex fluid flows as well as in optical diagnostics.

Carolina Isiegas

« Gene therapy for vision »: for a development of new gene therapies for vision

The goal of this project is to develop innovative, groundbreaking gene therapies for the treatment of inherited retinal dystrophies. Carolina Isiegas, an experienced academic researcher with industry expertise in the development of biotherapies for retinal diseases, will head up the existing retina research team in Nantes created 14 years ago (belonging to JRU 1089, “translational gene therapies of neuromuscular and retinal diseases”). The team is international leader on this topic which focuses on gene transfer in the retina and gene therapy for retinal dystrophies. Her experience in translational research will expand and enhance the team’s research activity, further strengthening in this field.

“The wide diversity and heterogeneity of inherited retinal degenerations pose significant challenges to developing therapeutic strategies and understanding the underlying mechanisms and pathophysiology. I propose to investigate multiple gene therapy approaches to increase the chances of success of novel retinal gene therapies. Another key objective is to develop new animal models that more faithfully mimic the human condition in order to investigate disease mechanisms and test the efficacy of potential gene therapies. In addition to the potential breakthroughs this project may bring about in the field of retinal gene therapy, the knowledge gained may help to advance inter- and trans-disciplinary applications in biological and biomedical research, biotechnology, and agriculture”.